Child Birth Injury in Santa Fe, NM

Have you or a loved one in Santa Fe suffered from malpractice during childbirth in a local hospital?

Complications during the delivery of a child have made waves in local news in the last few years. For instance, KRQE reported on a new program to reduce the number of incidents in New Mexico.

These types of headlines can mean there may be many sympathetic individuals who could serve on a jury. After reading this guide, assess how your odds stack up with a nearby and highly-qualified attorney.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

Was a medical professional you trusted negligent and did damage occur as a result? If so, affected parents have a chance of bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Santa Fe, NM.

During any labor and delivery process, timing and action are two crucial elements. Sometimes an infant suffers a birth injury. It can mean that a medical practitioner either made a poor judgment call or failed to act appropriately. If the Santa Fe medical provider’s actions go against the standard of care, then it may fit the legal definition of negligence.

To prove birth injury, negligence must have a direct connection to the damage. One of the most unfortunate elements of childbirth injury is not discovering the effects right away. Some injuries are discernible immediately after they happen. However, things that affect the brain may not be evident until developmental milestones are not reached.

It is worth noting that brain injuries have resulted in hefty judgments in favor of local families. The Santa Fe New Mexican covered a case where a jury awarded $73.2 million in damages.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Santa Fe. One of the following examples may apply to your circumstances.

• Improper Vacuum Usage

Sometimes a mother has difficulties delivering a baby through the birth canal. Santa Fe medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist. This machine is a standard instrument that can help suction the baby down and out of the birth canal. The vacuum attaches to the baby’s head or shoulders. Nurses and doctors are responsible for placing it appropriately. However, sometimes the vacuum is not attached where it should be. This error can cause severe injury to the mother and the infant during childbirth.

• Improper Use of Forceps

There are other options when a mother is having difficulty delivering her child. For example, the baby can be improperly positioned in the womb.

In this case, attending medical professionals may use forceps to help move a baby through the birthing canal. Appropriate use of forceps reduces oxygen deprivation. This tool also reduces the chances of fetal distress that can result in birth injuries.

The medical professionals that are birthing a child must use extreme care. The improper use of forceps can cause severe injuries to the head. Additionally, this device can also cause nerve damage in the neck or the chest.

• Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition that occurs when the brain of a baby is not receiving enough oxygen. The most common cause before and during delivery is the umbilical cord becoming tangled around the baby’s neck.

This condition often occurs due to a damaged or infected placenta. Thankfully, most Santa Fe, New Mexico medical professionals can identify hypoxia well in advance. As a result, they can intercede to eliminate the chances of the infant or the mother facing harm.

However, if the professional medical staff does not take action quickly enough, asphyxiation may occur. This can result in causing a child to develop severe physical or mental disabilities. Accordingly, medical staff may be liable for any damages that happened.

• Cesarean Section Delay

An emergency C-section may be necessary due to the infant’s fetal distress. This medical event occurs when the heartbeat of the infant drops because of the mother’s blood pressure. In addition, this condition can happen when there is a placental abruption or other breathing difficulties.

In truth, there are several reasons why a doctor may perform a C-section. For example, the baby could be in the wrong position or fail to descend into the birth canal. Another qualifying situation is when the mother has labored without dilation.

In these and other circumstances, the doctor may determine whether this procedure needs to happen. It may be the only way to safely birth the baby without further damage. But, the medical staff may wait too long to perform a cesarean. If so, the consequences for mother and child could be quite grave.

• Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is one of many potential injuries that can happen during complicated childbirths. However, that does not mean it is insignificant. In fact, this injury may harm a mother and an infant in a Santa Fe hospital.

Shoulder dystocia is often a consequence of the child’s shoulder becoming trapped against the pelvic bone. In theory, detecting the likelihood of this positioning warrants a c-section as the delivery method.

• Kernicterus

Kernicterus develops when jaundice in an infant develops beyond its normal parameters. Generally, yellowing of the skin or eyes goes away naturally over a few days or weeks. But, dangerous bilirubin levels will gather in the brain and create this condition.

Kernicterus is a high-risk condition in an infant that can cause irreparable damage to the brain. The highest risks can come when their bilirubin levels go above 25 mg/dL in a hospital in Santa Fe.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Santa Fe?

Other types of medical neglect that could result in injuries to the child or the birth mother include:

• Failing to perform sufficient prenatal testing
• Not using labor-inducing drugs timely
• Failing to diagnose or treat infections, umbilical cord entrapment, placental abruption, premature rupture of the membranes or placenta previa
• Not addressing changes in the baby’s condition

Why Should You Take Action for Your Child Birth Injury?

New Mexico’s infant mortality rate is slightly below the rest of the country. However, it is necessary to note that the U.S. has much higher rates than other modern nations. The unfortunate result of these dynamics is that many parents in Santa Fe may suffer problems in the hospital during childbirth.

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Santa Fe, take action to seek financial compensation. The most practical reason to pursue a childbirth injury lawsuit is to protect your financial future. A child and their mother may have to deal with a lifetime of setbacks and disabilities. The costs for treatment, medical equipment, and medications can overwhelm your budget quickly. As well, the trajectory of your life or your child’s can depend on pursuing civil action.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Santa Fe, New Mexico 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Santa Fe, you should take action. Find a local child birth injury lawyer to navigate the often difficult waters of birth injury lawsuits. We can even help you connect with an attorney across New Mexico state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!